Vertebrate Nervous Systems Flashcards
Where did the CNS develop from ?
The neural tube
What did the neural tube develop into over time ?
3 primary brain vesicles:
1. Forebrain
2. Midbrain
3. Hindbrain
What is olfaction ?
The sense of smell
Key features of mammalian brains
- Folding of the cortex
- Development of 6 layered neocortex
- Enlargement of the cerebellum
- Reduction of the olfactory system
Who is Phineas Gage ?
A railway worker who got an iron rod through his skull and survived.
However, he was a changed man who was unreliable, partial to swearing etc- disinhibition
What is white matter ?
Myelinated axons
What is grey matter ?
Collections of cell bodies
How do lampreys swim ?
By undulating movements of the body forwards and backwards using central pattern generators on both sides of the spinal chord
How are CPGs controlled ?
By locomotor command centres in the brain stem. These are controlled by the basal ganglia in the cerebral hemisphere.
What fish have the fastest acceleration?
Barracuda
What are M-neurones ?
Mauthner neuron.
They detect vibrations by sensory input and are responsible for fast movements in fish
Where are M-neurons found ?
On either side of the brainstem
Vestubulocerebellum
Balance
Spinocerebellum
Body raised off the ground
Neocerebellum
Connected to the cerebral cortex for motor coordination
What are the 4 phases of walking on land ?
- Flexion
- First extension
- Second extension
- Third extension
What is the step cycle in cats ?
Flexors and extensors inhibit each other reciprocally, giving rise to alternating stepping movements
Why do birds sing ?
It is composed of syllables which are characteristic of a particular species.
It is a learnt behaviour.
What is the neuroanatomy of birdsong ?
There is a complex interconnection of nuclei and tracts in the bird brain which control the syrinx enabling production of a song
